The blackened sky pulsed faintly with mana as the echoes of the taming flare faded.
A distant wind rustled the burnt trees on the horizon, casting long shadows across the podium where Davi stood with Gravilis walking unsteadily behind him.
The howls of the Eclipse Howler were gone
[Naming Successful!]
[Pet: Duskwisp Drake]
[Name: Gravilis]
[Rank: E]
[Status: Injured]
[Affinity – Decay/Earth Affinity]
Davi's knees buckled slightly as he leaned on Windcaller.
The magic clash had drained him more than expected.
"Thank goodness I have the hell of torment and i have cultivated to the peak of body refinement... At least i was able to condense just enough asura qi in the nick of time" Davi thought inwardly.
Just then, a huge surge of information flowed into his mind that truly left him dizzy.
Just as he was about to collapse, Russell caught his falling body… Ignoring Russell's call, Davi dozed off.
[Ding!]
[Initiating Internal Dialogue…]
[Connecting to Host…]
[Completed!]
"I just knew the system is the culprit behind this" Davi said as he materialized in the abyss of purgatory.
Not to long after an ethereal form of the duskwisp drake: Gravilis; materialized in the abyss of purgatory.
"So this is what my new pet looks like eeh?" Davi thought as he observed Gravilis too.
***
Back in the real world, the duskwisp drake that had being following behind the twin duo suddenly collapsed making Russel to think that the pet that his brother bonded to was probably dead.
"At the end of it all, not even the pet could survive? Truly pitiful" Said a random person named Gin in the crowd as he mocked.
Russell paying no head to this after exiting the platform, placed Davi down and went to check up on his beast.
"The stench of this bald lizard i really to pitiful" Russell said pinching his nose with his left had he used the right to drag the drake away from the platform.
As soon as his hand touched the drake…
"So its still alive?" Russell said as he pulled it towards Davi.
Due to the stench caused by its decay affinity, the crowd distanced themselves from the twin duo and beast.
Lady stacy watched as all these unfolded as the exams continued.
***
As soon as the system heard Davi's remark, it replied.
[Host was unstable during battle so, prioritizing survival host consciousness had to be pulled into the Abyss of Purgatory along with Host newly contracted pet]
"I would have swore for a second that this isn't my system… When did you become so talkative eeh?" Davi said as he continued to observe Gravilis that was yet to open its eyes.
The drake lay still, eyes shut, dark tendrils of energy coiling gently off its hide… majority if not all of its scales had fallen of making it appear sickly and bald.
"Tell me everything about him," Davi asked the system.
[Opening System Interface]
[…]
[Asura System]
[Sub-panel: Open]
[-Systems's Pet Shop (Open)]
[Pet Info]
[Pet: Duskwisp Drake]
[Name: Gravilis]
[Rank: E]
[Status: Injured]
[Affinity – Decay/Earth Affinity]
[Age: 12 years]
[Breed Class: Uncommon]
[Base Element: Earth]
[Sub-Element: Decay]
[Combat Role: Ambush Specialist (23.45%) | Terrain Modifier (1.002%)]
[Evolution: Requirements Not Met]
[Notable Traits…
Wisp Veins: Allows silent movement through shallow earth (Staus: Poor)
Rotfangs: Unlike regular Drakes, Its Tail contains poison fangs and inflicts necrotic damage over time (Status: Not Bad)]
Davi narrowed his eyes.
"Decay? I thought drakes were mostly earth brutes. This one has a death affinity?" Davi said as he thought about the drakes that exist back in the world of forsaken saints.
[Affirmative]
[Gravilis is a hybrid variant birthed during a lunar eclipse near the Bonecradle Range at the ends of the ashwood forest. Exposure to ambient decay energy mutated his core, resulting in dual affinity]
"And his evolution paths?" Davi asked skeptical.
[Three potential mutations detected:]
[Sandstorm Drake: Specializes in desert combat, sand manipulation, high-speed rotation attacks]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
[Decayrend Drake: Focused on erosion and corruption, spreads decay through environment and touch]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
[Gravemire Drake: Swamp-dwelling variant; Uses miasmic earth, and terrain poisoning.]
[Gains ability: ???]
[Material Requirements: Host hasn't reached the required level of authority!]
~Sigh
"Each one darker than the last… What with all these authority limitation eeh? Ayo!!!" Davi lamented.
[Host's bond will determine which route Gravilis aligns toward. Current bond strength is below evolutionary threshold] The system said immedialty after.
"Understood… But how do I strengthen it?" Davi asked.
Just then…
Gravilis opened one eye briefly, meeting Davi's gaze with something that bordered between fatigue and quiet curiosity as their eyes met, both Davi and Gravilis left the abyss of purgatory
***
Russell approached cautiously from behind, his white robe faintly bloodied from the battle. He crouched beside Davi, his eyes filled with concern.
"You really fought that thing alone?" Russell murmured, glancing at the scorch marks and torn podium tiles.
"Wasn't exactly alone," Davi said after opening his eyes.
Nodding toward Gravilis.
"Got some help from him… And windcaller my new staff" Davi replied.
Russell's gaze flicked toward the staff.
"That reminds me… You never told me how you got that thing, if i recall it wasn't with you when we arrived at the capital few days before"
Davi shrugged, glancing away.
"I don't know it just appeared… Probably it has something to do with our origins but am not sure" Davi responded after some time.
Russell arched a brow, but he didn't press. Instead, he touched Davi's shoulder.
"Hold still" He said.
His palm glowed with a pale green liquid as he gathered the nen energy.
Healing waves surged through Davi's body, mending his fractured elbow, soothing his bruises from the eclipse howler.
Faint gasp erupted from the watching crowd, however whispers followed immediately…
"They're both twins... What kind of bloodline do they possess?" Said one.
"Healing magic?! That's rare!" Replied another
"No wonder they are naturally awakened..."
Davi gave a tired chuckle.
"You sure know how to make a scene."
Russell stood, stretching.
"Not my fault this magic is rare… Besides, you're the one who had to get injured, do you expect me to watch with folded hands as my brother suffers?" Russell asked.
"Whatever" Replied Davi.
***
"Gin of Neighrad Kingdom… Step forward"
A mage acolyte with brown skin walked slowly into the arena
He walked with overconfidence, drawing closer to the Eclipse Howler's unconscious form… Turns out he was the one who had mocked Davi earlier.
The beast had a slight wound at its paws, but its core still pulsed with primal rage.
"I shall claim this beast in the name of Neighrad," Gin declared.
Gin raised a whip of magical construct and began the taming chant.
"By soul and chain, I bind thee…" Gin continued.
"Oh! For gods sake… must he be over dramatic" Cursed russell.
He knew that there was no need for chants in this test.
The Eclipse Howler snapped awake.
A beat passed… And then it killed him.
Faster than the eye could track, it ripped Gin apart in a surge of void-burst energy.
Screams erupted. Ten students standing nearby were shredded by residual force before a magic master from the Azure Claw Sanctum subdued it with a sealing net.
Chaos reigned for several moments.
Russell watched in grim silence… Davi just listened to the crowd cursing the reason for his blindness once more.
"He was a fool," Russell said finally.
"Or desperate to prove himself," Davi replied.
Grandmaster Halver chuckled as he watched this scene.
***
Three more hours had passed with a few candidates managing to tame a beast majority failed and quite a hand full died trying.
The day was already coming to an end yet about 900 candidates had yet to take the test… Just then, a gentle ripple passed through the arena once more.
This time it was no roar or burst of magic, it was the soft patter of footsteps.
From the Blue Sky Kingdom delegation, a young girl no older than sixteen walked forward.
"Alyssia Vel Bluera the Third Princess of Blue Sky Kingdom… Step Forward"
Gasps spread as she moved hesitantly toward the two-tailed fox, the one Gerald had failed to tame earlier.
Her movements were shy, shoulders hunched, head slightly bowed.
But the moment she knelt... something shifted.
The fox stopped snarling it tilted its head then soon after it whimpered.
Alyssia held out a gloved hand, shaking slightly.
The fox moved forward, placing its head beneath her palm.
Then, impossibly, the Eclipse Howler turned toward her.
The net flickered in warning, the beast straining... but then it stopped, panting.
"Hoho… Interesting" Said Grandmaster Halver as he watched.
"Is she resonating with both?" asked Gerald the one who failed previously.
She walked forward and laid her other hand gently on the Howler's fur.
A quiet hum passed between them.
"Thats a dual bond… and for someone so weak" Commented Lady stacy.
The entire arena was dead silent.
Immediately after the crowd erupted, and news of this immediately reached the king of blue sky kingdom.
***
Davi remained seated long after the show had ended.
"You think they'll talk about her more than you?" Russell teased.
"Let them," Davi muttered.
He looked over at Gravilis.
"I've got my own legend to write."